Estimation of Carbon and Nitrogen Contents in Forest Ecosystems in the Background Areas of the Russian Arctic (Murmansk Region)

Abstract

In this study, carbon and nitrogen contents in the undisturbed terrestrial ecosystems in the northern taiga zone of Russia’s Murmansk region were estimated. The goal of this study was to examine the carbon and nitrogen dynamics in atmospheric precipitation, assimilating organs of coniferous trees (Picea obovata and Pinus sylvestris), needle litter, soils, and soil water. The objects of our research were the most common dwarf shrub-green moss spruce forests and lichen-dwarf shrub pine forests of the boreal zone. The study was carried out on permanent plots between 1999 and 2020. The long-term dynamics of carbon concentrations in snow demonstrated a trend towards increasing carbon concentrations in forested and treeless areas of the Murmansk region. It was shown that in representative spruce and pine forests, the concentrations and atmospheric precipitation of carbon compounds and carbon leaching with soil water were higher below the tree crowns, compared to between the crowns. In soil water, a decrease was found in carbon concentration with the soil profile depth. For soils, the highest carbon concentrations were found in the organic and illuvial soil horizons. The main soil sinks of carbon and nitrogen in northern taiga forests were found to be located in the organic soil horizon below the crowns. In northern taiga forests, the carbon content of living Picea obovata and Pinus sylvestris needles and Pinus sylvestris needle litter had minor variability; no significant interbiogeocoenotic and age differences were found. We found that the nitrogen content in brown needles and needle litter was significantly lower compared to photosynthetically active needles, probably due to retranslocation processes (withdrawal before needle abscission), corroborating the literature in the results session. The largest stocks of carbon and nitrogen in northern taiga forests are concentrated in the soil organic horizon, and the removal of these elements with soil water is insignificant. Carbon and nitrogen stocks in living and fallen needles are lower than in soil. The least amount of carbon and nitrogen is contained in atmospheric precipitation.